Formula 1 showcases the art of driving in Moscow

Muscovites weary of traffic jams were especially envious of Formula 1 drivers burning rubber in the Russian capital last weekend.

On July 15, Muscovites had the chance to listen to the roar of
engines and smell the burned rubber of Formula 1 racecars. The two-day Moscow
City Racing show featured a demonstration of Ferrari, McLaren and Russian
Marussia racing cars.

The two-day Moscow City
Racing show, one of the most epic racing events to be held in the Russian
capital in recent years, took place in the center of Moscow along the Kremlin
walls. The show featured Formula-1 racers Giancarlo Fisichella (Scuderia
Ferrari), Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Charles Pic (Marussia).

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After professional motorbike
racers warmed up the crowd, the Scuderia Ferrari was presented by its test
driver, Giancarlo Fisichella. “It is something truly remarkable. Thousands,
tens of thousands of people come here to look at the cars and admire piloting.
I just love racing. I have taken part in more than 230 Formula 1 races during
my 14-year career; I am 39 now. I guess I’ve done enough,” Fisichella said in
an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Following the Italian was
Lewis Hamilton, driving last year’s McLaren car. After the race, Hamilton said
he was impressed by the response from the crowd. “I was trying to make as many
spins as possible,” Hamilton said. “I didn’t have many circles left on the
rubber, so I had to return to the box a bit early.”

Charles Pic was the last
of the three pilots to show off his driving skills, and it was the first time
that the young Marussia F1 team raced in the show. During the first drift
session, the Marussia suddenly stalled and Pic had to leave it on the track.
The mechanics did not manage to bring the car back to life at once, leading
some to speculate that the young racer must have been so thrilled to be part of
such a show for the first time ever that he clearly overdid the “donuts” and
overheated the engine. The safety system of the car then disabled all the
controls.

After the show, Hamilton
said he had been looking forward to the Moscow exhibition. “I’m happy to visit
Moscow and I’m glad that the show attracts so much attention. Vitaly Petrov
(Russian F1 pilot) was telling me that Russia was interested in Formula 1, and
I see now that it is true,” the racer said.